The Courant's Paul Doyle is in Arizona this week covering the Patriots, Seahawks and everything Super Bowl XLIX. Follow along through each day's activities leading up to the game as he sets the scene from Phoenix.

Tom Brady met the media at the team hotel Thursday morning and said his health is improving. The quarterback sounded a bit stuffy, but his cold is not preventing him from practicing and his remedy — garlic, he says — is apparently working.

It's Super Bowl week, so even a case of the sniffles is a big story. Brady said Wednesday that his children and wife had a cold, and he brought it with him to Arizona. But he took all of the snaps in practice and said Thursday that he's heading in the right direction.

McDaniels parlayed a run as Patriots' offensive coordinator to the head coaching job in Denver, where he won his first six games. But he lost 17 of his next 23 and was fired after the Broncos were punished by the NFL...

McDaniels parlayed a run as Patriots' offensive coordinator to the head coaching job in Denver, where he won his first six games. But he lost 17 of his next 23 and was fired after the Broncos were punished by the NFL...

(PAUL DOYLE)

"I've been through it plenty of times," Brady said. "I think it's the winter months ... Like I said, it kind of ran through my house. I'm glad it happened early in the week. I'm feeling a lot better. It was good to run around [Wedneday] and I expect to be 100 percent on Sunday. I'll be ready to go."

The Patriots had a spirited practice Wednesday and they'll be back on the field Thursday. The team completed its media obligation for the week as attention turns to the Seattle Seahawks.

At Seattle's access, all eyes were again on Marshawn Lynch, who has turned his media availability into a form of performance art. Lynch was talkative and combative in his final session of the week. He began with a lecture, asking why reporters continue to surround him after he has made it clear he's not talking.

And it wasn't just any coach. When Fleming played linebacker at Notre Dame, UConn coach Bob Diaco was his position coach and coordinator...

CHANDLER, Ariz. – As Patriots linebacker Darius Fleming began preparing for the biggest football game of his life, he got some words of encouragement from an old coach.

And it wasn't just any coach. When Fleming played linebacker at Notre Dame, UConn coach Bob Diaco was his position coach and coordinator...

(PAUL DOYLE)

"I don't know what kind of story you all are trying to get out of me," Lynch said. "I don't know what kind of image you all are trying to portray of me."

Later, he counted down his session.

"You all got another minute to look at me," he said.

And he threw out random "shout outs" as he sat behind the microphone — to his hometown of Oakland, to his teammates, to his family, to "real Africans out there."

When the alarm on his cell phone sounded, Lynch stood up and left.

At the Patriots access, coach Bill Belichick was again dressed casually with jeans, flip flops and a hooded sweatshirt. Reporters chatted with assistant coaches, including linebackers coach Patrick Graham. He grew up in Waterbury and graduated from Yale.

Graham said he is learning every day from Belichick, a Weslyan graduate.

The other story of the day — a fire alarm reportedly went off at the team's hotel early Thursday morning. Players said they were unaware of the alarm.

"I slept great," Brady said.

Back in downtown Phoenix, fans are flooding the street for variousentertainment and interactive options. There appear to be far more Seahawks fans than Patriots fans, although New England have more presence over thenext few days.

Also coming up Thursday: Katy Perry and Idina Menzel will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. Perry is performing at halfime, Menzel is singing the national anthem.